SpaceNews.com
• Sandra Erwin
SpaceNews.com
• Sandra Erwin
Today In Defense
Last Updated: Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, 8:16 AM PDT
2025-09-18T08:16:36.098567-07:00 2025-09-18T08:16:36.098567-07:00 (2025-09-18T08:16:36.098567-07:00)
Task & Purpose
• Jeff Schogol
Military helicopter crashes near Joint Base Lewis‑McChord; casualties unknown
By Task & Purpose: No information was immediately available about how many service members were aboard the helicopter at the time or what their status is.
MRO
Europe
Military Aircraft Procurement
Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)
Defense Industry & Major Contractors
NEW
FlightGlobal
• Craig Hoyle
2Excel nears completion of Excalibur flying testbed modifications for UK
By FlightGlobal: A second phase of modification work to prepare an ex-airline Boeing 757 for use as a flying testbed to support the development and trial of UK combat air technologies is due for completion before year-end.
Vertical Mag
• Vertical Mag
Leonardo workers ballot for strike after rejecting 3.2% pay offer; union calls it a 'real‑terms cut'
By Vertical Mag: Workers are being balloted for industrial action after rejecting a pay offer of 3.2 percent, which their union calls a “real terms pay cut.”.
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Space.com
• Tereza Pultarova
Ukraine destroys giant radio telescope used by Russian military
By Space.com: The RT-70 radio telescope in Crimea was once used to support missions to Venus and transmit messages to potential alien life in the cosmos.
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Bloomberg
• Lizette Chapman
Taiwan Spotlights Anduril Drones, Software in New Arms Deals
By Bloomberg: Taiwan will develop or buy weapons from six US and Canadian companies that deepen its investment in autonomous systems, including Anduril Industries Inc.’s DIVE-LD underwater drone.
Also:
Space Daily and
Bloomberg Law
FlightGlobal
• Greg Waldron
RAND Urges US Air Force to Expand European Cross‑Servicing to Support Agile Combat Employment amid F‑16/F‑35 Interoperability Issues
By FlightGlobal: US think tank Rand has urged the US Air Force to deepen maintenance partnerships with European allies to support dispersed operations under the Agile Combat Employment (ACE) strategy, citing challenges with Lockheed Martin F-16 and F-35 interoperability.
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SpaceNews.com
• Sandra Erwin
US Space Force chief warns U.S. satellite tracking is 'too slow' for modern threats
By SpaceNews.com: Space Force chief: Current satellite tracking ‘too slow' for modern threats Space Force Chief: Current satellite tracking ‘too slow' for modern threats.
